#d&d ruined even this character

[fromtheseventhhell]

It's crazy that people still uphold show!Sansa as a well-written character and pretend that liking her is the pinnacle of feminism when it would be infinitely more impactful to acknowledge her terrible and misogynistic writing. This is the same character who, while written by two men, was thankful for the abuse she suffered because it allowed her to grow. The same character who we had to be told was smart because the writers were too lazy to develop or show her intelligence. The same character who had to rely heavily on the men surrounding her and ended up accomplishing nothing on her own merit ( and no, thinking that she deserved to be Queen doesn't mean that she earned it). She is not well-written, she is not complex, and she is not a feminist character. Which is fine! If you enjoy her then good on you, but please stop pretending that she's something she isn't just because you feel the need to justify liking her character

[sciderman]

controversial take: x-men origins wolverine is the better deadpool and wolverine movie

[spacedlexi]

the post about the mirrors between the Kenny & Jane fight and the Minnie & Clem fight just reminds me of all the similarities between Violet and Kenny. like obviously they’re different characters, I just find it interesting how they share so many traits (being very loyal, may or may not sustain an eye injury, like fishing even if one is rod fishing and the other is spear fishing). there’s some more similarities I forgot to mention but I’ve been patiently waiting for someone to draw Violet and Kenny fishing wearing “women love me, fish fear me” hats or something.

oh yeah, ALSO. they both have moments where you can fight them and calm them down (Kenny on the train, Violet in the ending where you didn’t save her).

this is just so interesting! wish other people acknowledged it.

anon unknowingly unlocking my beef with kenny defenders who hate violet

vi was one of the first characters for me where i realized that a female character can have all the traits people will defend in their favorite male character(s) and yet theyll still find a way to absolutely despise her for some reason

kennys #1 defense is that him losing his family is what drove him to the brink and its soooo understandable for him to act out the way he does (brutally killing people, abusive even if it comes from a place of wanting to protect "his group"). but violet, who acts the way she does (isolationist loner) because.... she lost her family... is a disloyal bitch for some reason 😐 even while shes nothing but loyal to clem regardless of choice (people are quick to defend louis' actions in ep 2 as well and his behavior never makes Him disloyal for some reason 😐 "he lost his best friend!" and vi lost her best friends/gf because of marlon so?), and only has a lapse in judgement after you (determinately) "betray" her 💀 AND she apologizes for it if you do!!

if nothing about violet changed besides her pronouns the fandom reception to her would be so dramatically different and i refuse to believe otherwise

[oops-i-accidentally]

Ruins of the Mad King Pt. 2 - The Gods

The pantheon of the world, the deities that guide and protect the mortals through their lives. Though they reside in the Celestial Plane, their presences are still very much felt in all aspects of life. In the busy docks of a seaside town and the hallowed halls of the courts, in songs a bard sings and in the swing of a warrior’s blade. In the the act of comforting the weak, the act of protecting the wilds, and the act of putting one to rest, the gods stand besides the mortals.

At least, they should.

Ereindal The Matron of Endings The goddess that created the worlds and realms beyond. She was once held captive by The Broken One, her eternal energy feeding its eternal hunger, until she managed to escape into the Material Plane. From there, she created all that mortals know to be in life, from the dirt they tread on to the forests they explore. It was a tragedy when, in order to save her creations, she sacrificed herself to lock The Broken One away once again by acting as bait. Her loss was felt through all the realms.

Ar’sogthel The Broken One, The Lurker of the Gate, The Serpent Between Realms, The Nameless Mist Hunger and destruction incarnate, the destroyer of worlds. This beast is Ereindal’s opposite, the thing that balances her creation, but it cannot survive without her. Like a snake that eats its own tail, it can only ever consume to extend its life while only nearing its demise. It had been freed from its cage after a plot that spanned multiple millennia, causing the apocalypse in its wake. It was only returned to its space of nothingness by bringing Ereindal with it, to once again eternally fulfill its hunger.

Luxas The Master of the Tapestry The deity of fate, the first celestial being made after Ereindal was free. They were her right hand and oldest friend, the calm rock for her childish storms. They are a hermit, avoiding interaction with the mortals for as long as religious history can remember. Despite that, even they have been strangely quiet for the last 50 years...

Larhena The Scribe of the Past One of the three Fates, the helpers of Luxas, Larhena is in control of the past. She is the eldest of the triplets, but has a deep mischievous streak that’s only tempered by her siblings’ more calm personalities. She is the holder of all of the world’s history, that which is known and that which has been lost is all held within her sight. Though she once directed the threads of fate, she is now more involved in the affairs of the mortal world than any of the gods in the past millennia.

Larasil The Seer of the Present One of the three fates, Larasil is the omniscient watcher of the present. He is the middle child and is the rock of his two siblings, between Larhena’s mischief and Laremis’ flights of fancy. He keeps watch over all of the current affairs of the mortals to ensure none of the strings he weaves are cut or entangled against the plan, working where none can see him to keep order in the chaos. Currently, though, he finds himself tasked with cleaning up Larhena’s messes more than anything else.

Laremis The Oracle of the Future One of the three Fates, Laremis is the one who worked with Larhena to ensure the tapestry the threads of fate make up are plotted correctly. They see the big picture, the end result, while Larhena laid out the base. They are prone to daydreaming and getting lost in their imagination, for what they imagine are possible futures for the mortals they weave together, and are only held down by their siblings. Nowadays, however, they seem to be missing from the picture they once helped weave. All that is left behind are cryptic poems warning of what is to come, obvious only when it’s too late.

Desgaus The Mistreader Desgaus is the deity of magic, and is mostly commonly attributed as the creator of monsters. They're commonly depicted as a figure hidden behind a fabric shroud, their face forever and always a mystery. Desgaus is known to be the lover of Lenua, called the dark side of her moon, and the pair are rarely (if ever) separated from each other. They are one of the more rarely worshiped gods, usually by arcanists with a more religious streak. Their holy animal is the crane.

Lenua The Starwalker Lenua is the goddess of the moon and the night, the twin sister to Solis and lover of Desgaus. She keeps watch over the sleeping mortals during the night and is said to protect them from the dangers lurking the shadows, offering solace in her silvery light. She is most commonly worshiped by travelers and thieves, and even the creatures of the night are said to hold a reverence for her word and power. Her holy animal is the fox.

Solis The Dawneye Solis is the god of the sun and the day, the twin brother of Lenua. He watches over the mortals during the light of day, allowing the plants to grow and work to be done. He is known as a joyous god, encouraging others to show jubilation in his light, and is rumored to be more involved in mortal affairs than some other gods may be. He is most commonly worshipped by travelers, lawmen, and farmers. His holy animal is the kestrel.

Athres The Firespiller Athres is the deity of war, and lover of Contra and Dionsia. He is the one who watches over all mortal conflict, judging each side’s causes and giving blessings to those he feels deserve the rights of victory more. There have been times where it’s rumored that Athres himself took part in a war, or worked in close quarters with a chosen mortal to act as his vessel. He is commonly worshiped by warriors and soldiers, and called upon in times of conflict by leaders. His holy animal is the lion.

Contra The Soulweaver Contra is the deity of love, and the lover of Athres and Dionsia. Her domain included all types of affection a mortal may have for another, not purely romantic love. Some even posit that her true realm of power is the mortal soul, for what is a soul if not the ability to feel affection? She is the most widely worshiped deity of the pantheon because of this, held in the same high regard as Hesret, for no being is exempt from feeling affection of every single kind. Her holy animal is the bird of paradise.

Dionsia The Joywriter Dionsia is the deity of revelry, and the lover of Athres and Contra. They are also known as the deity of creativity, oftentimes blessing creatives of all art forms with inspiration and energy to create. As the deity of revelry, they are known to take on mortal forms to enjoy the riches and bliss only found in the mortal realms. They are worshiped by creatives, writers and artists, as well as anyone who lives a life more hedonistic and chaotic than might be wise. Their holy animal is the leopard.

Kemphra The Lifebringer Kemphra is the goddess of the earth. She works with Vastrom and Pelus to protect the wild places of the world from the destruction that mortals are prone to, for the land is just as much a child of Ereindal as the mortals are. She is known as a chaotic deity prone to quickly shifting moods, as calm as a serene pool in one moment and as furious as an erupting volcano in the next. She is most widely worshiped by farmers. Her holy animal is the rabbit.

Vastrom The Tideshaker Vastrom is the god of the seas. He is the protector of the waves and all that live underneath the waters, just as Kemphra and Pelus protect their own domains. While he is not as chaotic as Kemphra, he is known to be rather mischievous and plays tricks on sailors long out at sea. It is well known that he and Riventen are at constant odds, the fickleness of water coming to blows with the rigidity of mortal responsibility. He is worshiped by sailors and fishermen. His holy animal is the albatross.

Riventen The Peaceholder Riventen is the deity of leadership. They are widely regarded as the king of the gods because of this domain, leading and keeping the other deities in check for the mortals’ benefit. They are the judge of those that affront the gods, and work with Mortos to decide the destination of souls once a mortal has passed; either reincarnation, or an eternity in the hells. They are often depicted as being blinded, a cloth wrapped over their eyes, as they hold aloft a set of scales. They are commonly worshiped by leaders and lawmen, and courthouses are commonly also used as their temples. Their holy animal is the eagle.

Mortos The Endwatcher Mortos is the deity of death, and the leader of the hells. They are tasked with keeping the line between life and death, never allowing it to be crossed. They and their devas work as psychopomps to ferry the souls of the deceased. They are known as a cold deity, one that isn’t known to harbor the warmth that most of the other deities show, and as such are less worshiped and more feared. Despite this, a small sect has dedicated themself to Mortos and their worship in the Church of Mortos, who act as grave tenders and keepers of cemeteries. Their holy animal is the raven.

Pelus The Vinerunner Pelus is the god of the wilds, the forests and jungles of the world. He works with Kemphra and Vastrom to keep these spaces protected, though he tends to achieve this through fear rather than mischief or chaos. He oversees the delicate balance of the ecosystems and these ecosystems include monsters and beasts that would easily rend a mortal body to shreds, which he does nothing to prevent should a mortal wander into his lands. He is worshiped by druids mainly, but has been known to take those who also refuse to conform to a mortal society into his good graces as well. His holy animal is the monkey.

Hesret The Hearthkeeper Hesret is the goddess of the home, and is also known as the goddess of safety. She is the patron of those that provide and care for others, and advocates endlessly for peace in the mortal realm. Her followers are known to provide for the weak and forgotten, and acts of charity and compassion without repayment are seen as worship for the goddess. She is known to be worshiped by a large variety of people-- any who wish for the safety and warmth of home, really. This includes mothers and caretakers, innkeeps and those that provide care for the injured and sick.

The next post will be about the player characters of the campaign, and what their deals are! Stay tuned!

[keeps-ache]

ooooh this is such a scam [<- looking up references]

[musical-chick-13]

.

[arcadekitten]

Will we get a game in the future that shows what happens after INMIMB?

No, INMIMB was never created with the intention of a sequel in mind. INMIMB is a full and complete story on its own.

[elecman108]

I'm currently working on making full body refs of my human!FNAF lot and... I made a realization:

They're ABSURDLY TALL. Like, comparing them to some of my taller/average height D&D full refs... Bonnie, my guy. What the fuck. Also Sun is one of the shorter ones. I don't think more than maybe 3 Animatronics/Androids in my AU are shorter than 6' tall. I think the only two rn are Balloon Boy and Cupcake, who don't have refs done yet, so... Wow! I don't know why I made them all fucking massive!

(oh, of the FNAF refs I have done, I have the main FNAF SB group aside from Vanny and Gregory, and Glamrock Bonnie done. That's it. I have a bunch more lined but I still have a handful more to drawn including all the humans lol)

I'm adding in something post-posting this. The arm on the side of Bonnie's original image I had posted is... Sun! Didja guess rightly? Probably not because his arm that's visible there isn't visible here!!! Lol

[clumsycapitolunicorn]

.

[graunblida]

not me crying over the owl house finale

[fromtheseventhhell]

it honestly says a lot that sansa stans predictions for daenerys’ ending all revolve around her dying and specifically around being murdered, usually by Jon, and that even neutrals/bnf’s think dany is going to die, but the worst prediction i’ve ever seen for sansa is simply that she gets to live and have a happy ending but won’t be queen in the north. like it’s honestly ridiculous how accepted it is that dany is going to die and sansa is going to become qitn.

Literally. Dany antis can't accept any scenario where she lives at the end or has any kind of positive influence on the story; they fantasize about everyone in her life betraying her and her losing everything she's built over the books. Meanwhile Sansa "antis" predictions for her are that...she's alive, safe, and has some level of power by the end. The most popular "anti" theory is that she becomes the Lady of the Vale, where she could be closer to her North while still enjoying the Southern culture she loves. And her not becoming QITN doesn't even have anything to do with her character, people just don't think the North will be independent 😭. The difference is that Dany antis view Dany's death as necessary for the ending they want for their fave, while Sansa "antis" are looking at what makes sense for the character's arcs. No one is trying to get Sansa out of the way like they do with Dany (and Arya) or basing Dany's endgame on what happens with Sansa's arc, so she has fewer negative theories. She's almost universally considered the only character safe from dying and guaranteed to have a happy ending. That's not enough for her stans though, cause they need her to be the most important character; if people don't give Sansa special treatment, then it's "hate" 🙄.

[falllpoutboy]

it always baffles me whenever i realize that jaime isn’t the most popular character in got/asoiaf

[random-knowone]

RAN MY FIRST RPG TODAY!

played The Witch is Dead with my family :>

[mikkeneko]

In various places -- here, the bird app, even YouTube comments -- I keep running into people with some variation of the same question:

"Does Scum Villain have a teacher/student romance?" And every time I want to answer with: No, But Also Yes, But Also Not Really, It's Complicated (And That's On Purpose.)

Which is an answer that's too long to fit in a tweet or a YT comment, but fortunately tumblr has no (effective) post limit! So here I go.

1 - No

In the very straight forward porn cliche sense of "oh but professor, I really ~need~ to pass this class or my life will be ruined, can't I do ~anything~ to get you to change my grade?" *bats lashes* and "Hoho, my pretty young teen student, I've got your good grade right here in my pants, if you ~apply~ yourself..." then no.

No sex or romance between a teacher and their student in the bounds of a teacher-student relationship happens in this book. No deliberate grooming of an underage student on the part of a teacher occurs in this book. No sex or a romance between an adult character and an underage character occurs in this book, nor is the adult 'waiting' for the minor to reach adulthood to initiate one.

2 - But Also Yes

No sex or romance between a teacher and their student in the bounds of that relationship happens in this book. Two people who were formerly in a teacher and student relationship do enter into a sexual and romantic relationship by the end of the book. Also the nature of the society they're in further means that even though they are no longer in the schooling environment, it is socially assumed that the deference owed by a student to their teacher lasts forever, even after the student leaves that environment, and they continue to regard themselves and refer to themselves in those roles even though the teacher no longer strictly speaking has authority over the student.

Also, the student was really hot for his teacher even when he was still a student. (The teacher was oblivious to this fact.)

3 - But Also Not Really

By the time sex and romance is even on the horizon for these characters, their relationship has so drastically changed from that of a "teacher and student" that it is barely recognizeable as such. The power/authority dynamic between a teacher and their student is subsumed pretty much entirely by the facts that:

A. The 'student' has become a medeival fantasy warlord of such unsurpassable magic and might that literally no other person in this world can stand up against him, 'teacher' included, and the 'teacher' is well aware of that.

B. Also, the 'student' is metaphysically endowed (heh) with the Protagonist Halo, a literally active force within the setting they're part of, which means that not only can he not be defeated, he ontologically cannot be denied anything that he desires; what he wants, he gets, and what he doesn't want, cannot be forced on him.

C. ...But also, the teacher in this setting is a metaphysical outsider to the world order the student is part of, which means that he is aware of all of the above, and can and does manipulate it to suit his own agenda, which may or may not align with giving the student what he wants at any point in time. Assuming that the teacher has the correct understanding of what the student wants. (He doesn't.)

D. ........But also also, for all his power, one harsh word from him can destroy him. For all his knowledge, one tear can devastate him. (Which one? Both.)

4 - It's Complicated (On Purpose)

*throws the chalk against the wall*

Between a teacher and their student, who has the power? Between an emperor and a scholar, who has the power? Between a hero and the villain he is predestined to destroy, who has the power? Between a character and the reader who's read ahead to the end of the story, who has the power? Do we find some of these power imbalances more acceptable than others? And if so, why do we?

Trying to track Who Has The Power or Who Has An Unfair Advantage socially, physically, and metaphysically between this particular pair of characters is damn near impossible and that's on purpose.

The Scum Villain's Self Saving System is a lot of things, but one thing that absolutely defines it is that it is a parody. It's a parody and a deconstruction of a lot of things -- the 'stallion' genre, the 'isekai' genre, the 'pay-per-chapter webnovel' genre, the 'gay drama' genre and, most relevant to this conversation, it is a deconstruction of teacher-student romance.

What kind of a teacher-student romance has a clueless, fish-out-of water NEET in the role of the Wise Old Mentor? What kind of a teacher-student romance has a black-hearted, demonic, domineering feudal warlord in the role of the Blushing Virginal Student? What kind of a teacher-student romance has the two principals so close in age -- by the end of the book, they may be as little as a year apart -- that they're more like peers than teacher and student? What kind of audience are we, going into a story like this one and finding ourselves cheering for the teacher to fall in love and lust with his student, only to be disappointed when that doesn't happen because the teacher fails for three books straight to recognize love and lust when it's literally looking him in the face and crying?

Asking "does Scum Villain have a teacher-student romance?" is sort of like asking "does Galaxy Quest have a lot of high science fiction concepts?" No, but also yes, but also not really. It's complicated, and that's on purpose.

[thydungeongal]

A lot of people's issues with modern D&D would be immediately fixed if they accepted the game for what its rules actually say the game is trying to achieve (even though the rules are usually not vocal about it and you kind of have to divine that purpose).

Like, a lot of GMs seem to stress over making their games challenging enough but not too lethal because if the dreaded TPK happens or a character dies before fulfilling their personal arc then the narrative momentum of the game dies. But like:

Death is pretty much the only consequence of note in modern D&D. It might not be a fun consequence but without it you lose all tension

The fact that death is always on the table should be an indication that the game itself does not care about narrative continuity nor your characters' personal arcs.

Despite all the modern guardrails and mechanics like bonds and ideals that are supposed to add character death, D&D is ultimately a "some assholes go to die in a ditch" type of game. And that's okay. But playing it as a "I must preserve narrative continuity and make sure characters stay alive or else my plans are ruined" game means an uphill battle against the game itself.

[uravichii]

"best friends who kiss?"

character/s: bakugo katsuki

summary: recently, your best friend has been kissing you at random times. you have no idea why because he refuses to talk about it. either way, you're not about to let this to ruin your precious friendship.

genre & trope: fluff, best friends to lovers, angry confessions, reader is terrified of love but bakugo wants them so bad 😁, tw kind of ooc bakugo

a/n: i've been watching a lot of pride & prejudice and bridgerton scenes n i'm now obsessed angry confessions 🤩 + this is heavily inspired by that scene in little women :) ALSO i haven't posted in a year 😟 so pls be nice ik my writing's rusty in this :'D

the first time bakugou katsuki kissed you, he pretended he never did.

"what... " you brush your fingers against your bottom lip, your whole face hot. "what the hell was that for?"

"what?" bakugo shrugs, feigning innocence as he takes a swig of his soda.

you try and trace back the events that could have led to the kiss.

you said something along the lines of: "i wish i had a boyfriend. i could definitely pull a cute guy off the street."

then you heard him scoff and say: "no man's sane enough to put up with your insufferable ass." ーor something more insulting than that.

you can't remember what you said in response, and you rack your brain to figure out what prompted him to grab your face and kiss you. it's impossible when all you can think about is the unexpected supple feel of his lips, its faint ghost still lingering on yours.

"that kiss, katsuki! you violated my mouth!"

"dunno what you're talking about. you hit your head or something?"

you blink and second-guess yourself for a second.

"okay, no. you're not gonna gaslight your way out of this." you swat his arm, earning an irked glare from him. "why the hell did you kiss me?"

"you're imagining things, idiot. this stupid game's givin' ya some serious brain damage for sure."

he stands up and swings his bag over his shoulder.

"where are you going? we're not done yetー!"

and he's out of the door.

was he drunk off his soda? maybe he kissed you to mess with your head. he's not that cruel though, you think. maybe he couldn't think of any other way to shut you upー that was something he always struggled with after all.

at least the second time bakugo katsuki kissed you, he was kind enough to warn you.

after enduring the most awkward hour-long study session with him, you decide to put an end to your agony by wrapping it up. you start gathering your things when he stops you with a calloused hand on your wrist.

"what?" you turn to him, your cheeks already heating up from his touch.

there are no thoughts you could read behind those vermillion eyes, and all of a sudden, you don't know your best friend very well anymore.

he walks some tentative steps closer to you until the back of your knees hit the table. he cradles your jaw with such delicacy you didn't even know he was capable of. he slips past your awaiting lips and presses his nose on the side of your head, his warm breath kissing your flushed skin.

"punch me in the face and scram if you don't want this, got it?"

you gulp and forget to answer if not for the gentle squeeze on your wrist. "y/n, you got it?"

"s-sure."

when you two kiss, it's different from last time. it's unhurried, curious, and so intoxicating. the kiss speaks: 'i want you. i want you. i want you' but whose thoughts are these?

he groans into your lips as if to urge you to keep up with the sheer hungriness that has consumed him. you try your best to do so as he deepens the kiss with a palm on the back of your head and practically drinks you in. he doesn't pull away until he hears the tiny whine that escapes you.

"shit, sorry." he mutters, avoiding your stunned gaze.

"t's okay."

"did i hurt you?" the quiet lilt of his voice surprises you.

"no, no. i'm okay, but why'd you kiー"

"bye." he blurts out as he turns to the door and leaves, as if he didn't just invaded your mouth and permanently tainted the years of friendship you two have had. you click your tongue as the heat subsides in your cheeks.

"son of a bitch."

the third time bakugo katsuki kissed you, you let him, and he didn't stop.

you had barely escaped death when you lost your footing while sparring with todoroki. naturally, bakugo yelled the poor guy's ear off and would have murdered him if eraserhead hadn't interfered at the last second.

now, you find yourself heaving in your bed. you don't know whether your hastened pulse is from the adrenaline rush or from the fact that bakugo is all over you right now.

he's planting feather-light kisses all over youー your cheeks, your nose, your forehead, your eyelids, your hands, and your wrist, as panicked murmurs spill out of him in between kisses. 'you scared the hell out of me. you have no idea, fuck. are you okay? are you really okay? tell me you're okay, y/n.'

"i'm okayー" you barely manage to gasp before he dips his lips into yours, desperate and frantic. tremulous hands find solace in your hips as he holds you, gentle enough not to mar your injuries but snug enough to assure his restless heart that you are safe.

your head feels hazy. your limbs ache and lie motionless, and though your lips could barely move to reciprocate his kisses as much as you wanted to, bakugo didn't stop. you tried to ask him about it the next morning, but of course, he ignored you and walked away.

you don't know when he stopped kissing you that night. all you know is that there was a line that was crossed, and your friendship was never going to be the same again.

bakugo katsuki is going to kiss you again. your heart thrums incessantly. whether it's dread or anticipationー you don't know.

you think about the sensation of his lips that's become so familiar to you that you've learned to crave it. it shouldn't be familiar to you, and you sure as hell shouldn't want it. so you do what you think is necessary.

you kick him in the shin.

"motherfー!" sure enough, he's pissed. "what the hell is wrong with you?!"

"what the hell is wrong with you?!"

"i was going toー"

"no! you're not gonna kiss me again and walk away and pretend it never happened. you're messing with my head, katsuki! it's not funny!"

"wasn't trying to be funny!" he barks back.

"okay, so what exactly are you trying to do? what is this? i meanー" you stammer, struggling to find the words. "katsuki, what are we?"

he sighs and shifts his stance, his discomfort apparent. when the silence lingers on for too long, you speak.

"well, whatever it is that you want from me, we're going to stay friends. nothing more, nothing less. that's it." your breath hitches, and you don't know why you feel like crying as you speak. "... so i don't want your stinky mouth anywhere on me again."

silence weighs heavily between you. sometimes you wish you didn't know him too well, then the hurt he veils in his eyes wouldn't be so plain and vivid to you, and you would have walked away by now without an ounce of remorse.

"i like you, y/n." is all he could say when he finally speaks.

you shake your head. "no, you're just confused."

"i'm not confused. i like you."

"katsuki, you've been bitchless all your life, and i'm just the closest thing to a s/o. maybe go take a walk or something."

"i like you." he persists. "i've liked your stupid ass forー"

"stop saying that. you don't."

"i do, and you like me tooー"

"what?!" you laugh incredulously.

'who does this dumbass think he is?' is he right? surely, he's not. then what are you so afraid of in the first place? why have you been counting down the days until he kisses you again? why do you yearn for his touch as if it's something you own? why do you feel so infuriated and so tormented when he leaves the room after kissing you?

you do what is necessary again.

"you're delusional!" you yell at his face, a childish shrill that's awfully familiar to your childhood best friend.

"jesus christ." he inhales sharply in frustration. "you're a fucking pussy, y/n."

you clench your jaw and match his glare. anger surges in your chest and bleeds into your voice.

"i'm not the one who chickens out after kissing their best friend! you can't even acknowledge the fact that you kissed me because you'reー!"

"do you think i want to chicken out? why do you think i run away after kissing you?! if i stayed and confessed all this shit the first time, you would've refused to hear it like the damn coward you are!" he leans close to you, his voice lowering into a ragged snarl that quickens your pulse. "and you're just proving it right now, y/n. you're always going to shut this down and deny your feelings because you're a fucking pussy. you're terrified of relationships, and it's dumbest shit ever. pathetic, really."

you rear back from his words. if anything, you always thought it was katsuki who was afraid of love. now, you can't help but feel small and vulnerable underneath his searing gaze.

"it's not dumb..." you shuffle uncomfortably. "what, i'm supposed to ruin our friendship for a relationship that we're going to break off anyway?"

"we're not going to break it off."

"how do you know that?"

"because i'll be the best goddamn boyfriend in the world!"

"first of all, gross." you scoff. "second of all, it's never gonna work out! you're going to get sick of me in three days max."

"i've known you since we were brats, and i still want you."

"you literally said no man's sane enough to put up with my obnoxious ass."

he smirks. "i said 'insufferable ass'."

"katsuki!" you fight the urge to strangle him and punch that stupid smile off his face.

"wasn't even serious that time." he grimaces and reluctantly continues. "you know damn well you can pull any guy you want, and he'd be the luckiest bastard on earth."

if it were any other day, you'd grin at him and say 'i told you so,' but your lips remain unmoved, and your eyes stay dim. you're afraid you'll never go back to being the same katsuki and y/n again.

"this is pointless, katsuki. i mean, look! we're already fighting." you grouch and tell yourself you don't want this. "i still don't want us to happen so while this friendship is still salvable, let's agree to stay friends, and whatever sappy shit you feel for meー suck it up."

in one swift motion, he closes the distance between you, his face hovering dangerously over yours.

"suck it up?" he breathes, his face taut in frustration. "restraining myself from you is the hardest shit i've ever had to do. it takes everything in me not to kiss your stupid face!"

he shudders, weakly resting his forehead against yours as if this conversation alone has exhausted him. still, he goes on.

"and everytime i failedー everytime i kissed those lips, it was... a moment of weakness, but that's the fucking problemー you're just..." he buries his face into the crook of your neck, a desperate attempt to escape your wide-eyed gaze. "i'm weak for you, y/n. every second. and it drives me fucking insane that you keep running away from me."

he rises to meet your eyes again. the cadence of his voice changes into something weak and desperate, stripped of all the pride and anger he's ever known.

"i love youー fuck. i love you." he lets the words hang in the air, letting the words hear itself spoken because for once, you're not stopping him. "i love you, so please... let me."

after much thought and another agonizing minute of silence, you lean in to kiss bakugo katsuki.

he kisses back almost instantly and revels in the way you wrap your arms around his neck and bear your weight on him completely. he kisses back ardently, his pent-up desires and years of longing etched in the way he seeks your lips, kiss after kiss after kiss.

when you finally pull away, you're met with a devilish smirk, his begging eyes long gone. you wonder to yourself when you'll see those eyes again.

"took ya long enough." he kisses you again. he raises a brow at the way you're caging him in your arms. "jesus, no one's gonna snatch me from you."

"i'm making sure you don't run away again, dumbass."

"i won't." he says earnestly as he props his forehead against yours. "and you won't either. i'll make sure of that."

you nod your head with a giddy smile as he pecks your lips again.

"so..." you say as you exaggerate a pensive look, a cheeky grin spreading across your face. "we're best friends who occasionally kiss?"

he rolls his eyes. "you're impossible."

"recite that speech again, and i'll consider calling you my boyfriend."

"fuck off!"

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